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Evening Star Cafe, Alexandria, VA

Evening Star Cafe

4.4
4.4
1647 Reviews
$30 and under
Contemporary American
2000 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 18 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
The Evening Star Cafe is a rollicking neighborhood gem located in the heart of Del Ray. Opened in 1997, Evening Star is well known for its friendly vibe and convivial setting and continues to shine with a fiercely loyal crowd. Evening Star combines friendly, gracious service with a seasonal American menu featuring produce grown on our rooftop garden and by local farmers throughout the region.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, American
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Marvin Rivera
  • Private party facilities
    The No. 9 Lounge is a wonderful space for private parties! We can accommodate all types of events-casual birthday bashes to seated full-service dinners, wedding parties, wine tastings, & more! We also host more intimate private Farm Table Dinners in Planet Wine. Come celebrate with us! Please reach out to dharrop@neighborhoodrestaurantgroup.com
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Alexandria
  • Cross street
    E. Howell Ave.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking on Mount Vernon Ave or cross streets
  • Public transit
    Ten minute walk from the Braddock Road Metro or Potomac Yards
  • Entertainment
    Please note that our downstairs bar opens daily at 4:30 PM. The upstairs bar, No. 9 Lounge, is open Wednesday through Saturday at 5:30 PM. You can find the full calendar of bands playing in the No. 9 Lounge on Wednesdays and Thursdays here: http://ow.ly/om8GN. Shows in the No. 9 start at 8 PM and there is no cover charge.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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What 1,647 people are saying

Evening Star Cafe reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Virginia - DC Suburbs

    Neighborhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Evening Star Cafe offers a charming neighborhood vibe with "creative comfort food," innovative cocktails, and a cozy atmosphere. The "bacon cornbread pound cake with dulce de leche" is "out of this world." Despite occasional service hiccups, the "fantastic brunch menu" and "outdoor setting" make it a delightful dining destination.

1,647 Reviews
  1. Cori

    Washington DC2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Evening Star had their outdoor area ready and prepared with comfortable seating, plenty of shade and good music, all of which made for a lovely and relaxing vibe. All of the staff were cheery and efficient and the food was delicious. All in all, perfect!
    Evening Star CafeResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Cori, Thank you so much for sharing your lovely feedback with us! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear you enjoyed your time at Evening Star Cafe. It’s wonderful to know that the outdoor area, with its comfy seating, plenty of shade, and great music created such a relaxing and inviting vibe for you. We’re also delighted to hear that you found the food delicious and the staff cheerful and efficient—it’s always our goal to create the perfect experience for our guests! We can’t wait to welcome you back for another memorable visit. Warm regards, Níamh O'Donovan Service Director

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  2. Robin

    Washington DC5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Overall, we had a nice brunch with an old friend. We were a party of 3 and fit nicely in one of their larger booths. The food was well prepared and tasty. However, the menu has changed and a couple of our favorite items were removed. I'd say we missed our favorites compared to two of the new ones we ordered. The music was a bit loud for a Sunday brunch. Look forward to visiting again as well as trying some of their sister places next door.
    Evening Star CafeResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Robin, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed a nice brunch with your friend and appreciated the cozy booth seating. It’s wonderful to know the food was well-prepared and tasty, even though we’re sorry to hear you missed a couple of your favorite menu items. We truly value your input and will take it into consideration as we continue to refine our offerings. We’re also sorry the music was a bit loud for your Sunday brunch—we’ll be sure to keep that in mind moving forward. We look forward to welcoming you back soon, and we hope you’ll enjoy exploring some of our sister spots next door as well! Warm regards, Níamh O'Donovan Service Director

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  3. Mark VIP

    Washington DC48 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious entree (brisket meatloaf) and the Brussels Sprouts appetizer also really good. A neighborhood staple and still one of the best.
    Evening Star CafeResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Mark, Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the brisket meatloaf and Brussels sprouts appetizer—those are definitely crowd favorites. It’s wonderful to know that Evening Star Cafe continues to be one of your neighborhood staples and still ranks among the best for you. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another delicious meal and memorable experience. Your kind words truly mean the world to us! Warm regards, Níamh O'Donovan Service Director

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  4. Beth VIP

    Denver6 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    We really wanted to love this restaurant, but the only memorable part of the night was the slow and poor service. Ordered our drinks and meal and it was 20 minutes to receive a soda and 55 minutes to get our meal. We felt like we were an inconvenience to our server. The olives were good! The meal was ok. We also observed the host using his sleeve to wipe dry two appetizer plates while setting a table across from us.
    Evening Star CafeResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Beth, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I’m truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations, particularly regarding the service. Waiting 20 minutes for a soda and 55 minutes for your meal is unacceptable, and I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. It’s also concerning to hear that you felt like an inconvenience to your server and observed the host using their sleeve to wipe plates—this is not reflective of the standards we aim to uphold. Your feedback is invaluable, and I will be addressing these concerns with our team to ensure improvements are made. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide the exceptional experience we strive to deliver. Best regards, Níamh O'Donovan Service Director

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  5. Laura

    Washington DC2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice brunch menu. Cute atmosphere. We’ll try it again for dinner
    Evening Star CafeResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Laura, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our brunch menu and found the atmosphere charming. It’s always wonderful to know that our guests appreciate the cozy and inviting vibe we strive to create. We’re excited to welcome you back for dinner and hope it will be just as delightful as your brunch experience. Your support truly means the world to us! Warm regards, Níamh O'Donovan Service Director

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  6. Chad

    Washington DC2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Friendly FOH. Tasty drinks. Tasty food. My trout was outstanding. My wife’s pasta with duck confit was good not great.
    Evening Star CafeResponded 2 days ago
    Hi Chad, Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trout—it’s always wonderful to know when a dish truly stands out. We’re also glad your wife enjoyed her pasta with duck confit, even if it wasn’t quite as exceptional. Your kind words about our front-of-house team mean the world to us. I’ll be sure to pass along your gratitude—they’ll be delighted to hear it! We can’t wait to welcome you both back for another memorable dining experience. Warm regards, Níamh O'Donovan Service Director

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  7. Anthony VIP

    Washington DC7 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    The food is fantastic but every time I have been there has been a huge problem with the service. There does not seem to be enough staff and the staff is fairly incompetent in terms of tending to tables. I was hoping things had changed after waiting a couple of years to return but the service is still a huge problem.

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  8. Laura

    Washington DC5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice local place, just a fairly limited menu. Good spot to talk with friends
    Evening Star CafeResponded on March 31, 2025
    Hi Laura, Thank you for your kind review! We're glad you enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and found it a great spot to catch up with friends. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back soon! Warmly, Níamh O'Donovan | Service Director Neighborhood Restaurant Group 2000 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301

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  9. Joe

    Key West4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 27, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    An off night for the evening star. Food was average - usually love the brussel sprouts but they were overcooked and not crispy. Undersauced. And no scallops on the menu- one of my favorite dishes in the past. We’ll be back soon though - still good food, love the quirky ambiance and staff is always friendly and helpful.
    Evening Star CafeResponded on March 31, 2025
    Hi Joe, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us! We’re sorry to hear it was an off night for Evening Star—we know our crispy Brussels sprouts and scallops have been favorites in the past, and we truly appreciate your honesty about the food. Your feedback means a lot, and we’ll take it to heart as we keep improving. That said, it’s great to hear you still enjoyed the quirky ambiance and our friendly staff—we love that about Evening Star too! We can’t wait to welcome you back soon and make sure your next visit is truly fantastic. Warmly, Níamh O'Donovan | Service Director Neighborhood Restaurant Group 2000 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301

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  10. Robert

    Washington DC47 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a very nice meal. Having not been to Evening Star in a few years, we thought we would give it another try and we were glad we did. The menu has changed, but there was still something for everyone and it was fun to be back.
    Evening Star CafeResponded on March 31, 2025
    Hi Robert, Thank you so much for your review! We’re delighted to hear you had such a nice meal and decided to give Evening Star another try after a few years. It’s great to know you found the updated menu enjoyable with options for everyone, and we’re so glad you had fun being back! We’d love to welcome you again soon for another wonderful visit. Warmly, Níamh O'Donovan | Service Director Neighborhood Restaurant Group 2000 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Evening Star Cafe offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (703) 549-5051.

Evening Star Cafe is rated 4.4 stars by 1647 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Washington, D.C. Area
  4. Virginia - DC Suburbs
  5. Alexandria

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 18 times today
Google Map for Evening Star Cafe

2000 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301

Additional information

  • Cross street
    E. Howell Ave.
  • Neighborhood
    Alexandria
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking on Mount Vernon Ave or cross streets
  • Public transit
    Ten minute walk from the Braddock Road Metro or Potomac Yards
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Marvin Rivera
  • Entertainment
    Please note that our downstairs bar opens daily at 4:30 PM. The upstairs bar, No. 9 Lounge, is open Wednesday through Saturday at 5:30 PM. You can find the full calendar of bands playing in the No. 9 Lounge on Wednesdays and Thursdays here: http://ow.ly/om8GN. Shows in the No. 9 start at 8 PM and there is no cover charge.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    The No. 9 Lounge is a wonderful space for private parties! We can accommodate all types of events-casual birthday bashes to seated full-service dinners, wedding parties, wine tastings, & more! We also host more intimate private Farm Table Dinners in Planet Wine. Come celebrate with us! Please reach out to dharrop@neighborhoodrestaurantgroup.com
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